Electric treater



a novel electrode structure for electric Patented June 15, 1954 ELECTRIC TREATER Hendrik Pieter De Wit,

assignor to Petrolite Cor of Delaware Maracaibo, Venezuela, poration, a corporation Application July 12, 1948, Serial No. 38,232

19 Claims.

My invention relates to the electrical resolution of emulsions and more particularly to a novel electric treater for resolving emulsions of the Water-in-oi1 type.

Heretofore, it has been the general practice to dispose electrodes in an upright cylindrical container, these electrodes being energized to establish a high-voltage electric field therebetween. The emulsion, typically a crude oil emulsion, is delivered to the field which coalesces the dispersed water into masses of sufficient size to settle through the oil to a body of water in the lower end of the container. The separated oil is drawn from the top of the container and the settling water masses must gravitate through the oil in a direction counter to the general direction of how of the oil in the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric treater in which the water or coalesced phase can separate rapidly and directly and Without substantial interference from the moving oil stream in the container.

Another object of the invention is to employ a horizontally-elongated container, the emulsion entering the container near one end portion, the electrically treated and separated constituents being withdrawn from the other end portion whereby the general direction of flow through the container is substantially horizontal. The coalesced masses are required to settle only a relatively short distance before reaching the lowermost wall of the container, along which the coalesced material may flow as a relatively thin layer to the exit end of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric treater in which the coalesced material is moved to a separate container, positioned at a lower level. In this separate container any residual oil can separate and be returned to the main container.

Another object of the invention is to provide treaters and including a pair of substantially flat electrodes spaced from each other to define a treating space open at each of its sides, the emulsion being introduced into one side of the treating space, either in a direction longitudinally of the container or transverse to the axis thereof. A further object is to employ perforated electrodes and. to effect sion constituents in the region of the electrodes.

A further object of the invention is to employ an elongated nozzle structure adjacent one side of such a treating space and providing emulsiondischarge orifice means disposed in a direction substantial separation of the emulparallel to the electrodes and directing a stream of emulsion toward the center of the treating space.

An additional object of the invention resides in the design of an electric treater wherein the partially-separated oil can be subjected to additional electric action before being withdrawn from the container, thereb permitting additiona1 lowering of the Water content of the efiiuent oil.

Further objects of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the electric treater of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line l-l of Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to Figs. l-5, the electric treater includes a horizontally-elongated container it, typically a tank having a cylindrical side wall il closed by two end walls I 2 and 13. By any suitable means, not shown, the container it is mounted with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal. The length of the container is preferably several times the diameter or height thereof, the container providing an entrance zone it adjacent one end thereof and an exit zone [5 adjacent the other end thereof, there being an intermediate zone therebetween. These zones are adapted to be substantially filled with oil-continuous material from which the coalesced dispersed material may gravitationally separate. In the use of the invention to be exemplified, namely, oil type emulsions, the coalesced water will gravitationally separate in the container it to form a thin layer of water it disposed below the line A-A of Fig. 1. The depth of the separated water may be substantially the same in each of the zones It or l5 or there may be a slight difference in depth if the longitudinal axis of the container is not exactly horizontal.

Mounted in the entrance zone It and adapted to be submerged in the oil-continuous material,

in the resolution of water-in- 3 is an electrode structure comprising a pair of substantially flat electrodes shown as including an upper electrode and a lower electrode 2i. As best shown in Fig. 2, the lower electrode is substantially rectangular and includes a frame 22 to which is secured an electrode sheet 23 which may bean imperiorate plate but which preferably is foraminous. Best results have been ob tained from use of a ioraminous electrode formed of expanded metal. To prevent any sagging of the expanded metal, braces 2Q traverse the interior of the frame 22, being secured thereto and being in supporting relationship with the ex panded metal. The lower electrode 2! is supported and electrically connected tothecontainer it by brackets 25 welded or otherwise secured to the container and by slotted legs 26 which are clamped to the brackets 25 by any suitable clamping means, such as a nut and bolt 2?.

By loosening. such clamping means, the vertical position ofthe electrode 2! can be adjusted.

The upper electrode 2% may be constructed in an identical manner, preferably with a frame 23 covered with an electrode plate 29 which, again, is best made of foraminous material such as ex panded metal. An inlet bushing 30, depending in a hood 3|, carries four diverging arms 32 which support the upper electrode 20 the bush ing at insulating the upper electrode 39 from the container ill. The upper electrode is adapted to be connected to a high voltage source, typically to one terminal of a secondary winding 33 of a.

transformer 3d, the other terminal of the secondary winding being grounded and connected to the container it as shown.

The upper and lower electrodes 2t and 2! are spaced to define a treating space 35 open at each of its four sides. Energization of the transformer will establish an alternating electric field in the treating space 35 of sufiicient intensity to coalesce the dispersed water droplets of a water-in-oil emulsion.

The invention contemplates that the emulsion to be treated shall be introduced into an entrance side of the treating space 35. Preferably, the emulsion discharges sheet into this side of the treating space. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 this is accomplished by use of an elongated nozzle structure, indicated generally by the numeral 36 and shown as including three axially-aligned nozzle members 3?, coopcrating in defining a pipe means, each nozzle member being closed at its ends and each providing a slot means forming an emulsion-discharge orifice means 38 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the electrodes and facing to direct emulsion toward the center of the treating space 35. As best shown in Fig. 3, each nozzle member 37 includes a slot 39, preferably adjustable in width to control the thickness of the stream discharged into the treating space 35. While various means can be employed for changing the width of the slot 39, Fig. 3 shows an arrangement whereby this can be accomplished through use of one or two orifice members or plates is curved to conform to the nozzle member 31 and adjustably clamped to its periphery by cap screws ll extending through elongated slots 42. The plates it provide edges 43 cooperating in defining the emulsion-discharge orifice means 38.

It will be understood that the walls of the slot 39 can be employed to define the orifice means if adjustment through use of the plates at is not desired.

Each nozzle member 3? is supported by a pipe substantially as a flat tion, an auxiliary settling zone.

throttling efliuent l5 secured in the end wall it of the container it and carrying a- T fitting it. The emulsion to be treated may be supplied to a manifold pipe ll with branches :3 communicating respectively with the T fittings it, the flow through each branch being controlled by a valve ts. Similarly, dry oil may be supplied to a manifold pipe E6 with branches 5i communicating respectively with the "l" fittings it, the fl w being controlled by valves 52. In some instances, it is desirable to mix dry oil or other liquid, with the incoming emulsion beforedisc-harge into the treating space and this can be accomplished by use oi the structure shown.

With the apparatus thus far described, a water-in-oil emulsion can be resolved the container ill, the electric field coalescing the dispersed water particles into masses of suificient size to gravitate to the bottom of the container. The jet velocity from the emulsion-discharge orifice 33 will usually be about 1-15 ft. per second and some of the coalesced masses can gravitate from the treating space 35 through the interstices of the lower electrode 2!. Similarly, some of the oil may rise through the interstices of the upper electrode 23 before reaching the far end or exit side of the treating space 35. The jetting of the emulsion into the treating space 35 will'tend to aspirate some of the oil-continuous material into the treating space from above and below the znidsection of the container, as indicated, respectively, by arrows 54 and 55.

The separated water should be withdrawn from the container it at such rate that only a shallow body thereof remains in the container. This water is withdrawn from the exit zone It? through pipes til and 5B which extend to an auxiliary container (55] spaced below the main container it. As shown, the auxiliary container 6t slopes downwardly to a lower end ill from which water is drawn through a bleeder pipe 62 equipped with a valve 53, the water being discharged into a funnel 6d communicating with a suitable drain. If desired, the valve tit may be automatically controlled by any suitable levelcontrol system known in the art, thereby controlling the efiluent liquid to maintain the level of the water in the container It! substantially at the line A-A. The use of a separate container it to receive the water is of particular advantage in this connection as it increases the height of the bleeder pipe (-32 and makes possible better control of the water level.

lhe auxiliary container 6% provides, in addi- In the event that small quantities of oil are removed from the container ill with the water, such oil will rise to the uppermost portion of the container t!) and can be returned to the main container it through a pipe 65 which terminates above the water level in the main container at a position ahead of any auxiliary electrode structure in the exit zone It.

The separated oil is removed ircin the upper end of the exit zone iii through a pipe 6% equipped with a valve 67. The valves '63 and 6'! serve to maintain a pressure in the container it by streams or water and oil.

Disposed in the exit zone I5 is shown an auxiliar electrode means which receives and further treats the oil to reduce additionally its water content beiore discharge through the pipe 65. This auxiliary electrode means is best shown in Figs. 1 and 5 as comprising a plurality of foraminous electrodes it each comprising a frame ll hung from a rod l2 and covered with expanded metal.

ment shown in Fig.

These electrodes are substantially semicircular in shape and terminate near the midsection of the container It}. The rod 12 is supported by insulators M extending into hoods 15, being adjustably supported by adjusting units 76. A bushing ll disposed in a hood 78 carries a conductor which is electrically connected to the rod 72 and to the secondary of a high-voltage transformer 79, one terminal or the secondary being grounded and connected to the container H) as shown.

Extending upwardly between the depending electrodes 70 are grounded electrodes 80, each providing a frame 8! shaped generally as shown in Fig. 5 with an arcuate depression 86 to provide clearance for the rod 72. Expanded metal is stretched across and secured to these frames so that the oil can flow successively through treating spaces 8? between the live and grounded electrodes in its travel to the outlet pipe 66. The electrodes 83 are supported by rods 88 extending longitudinally of the container H3 and held by standards 39 secured to the container.

It has been found in practice that the use of the auxiliary electrodes in the exit zone I 5 effects further treatment of the oil with the result that there is some further coalescence of water drop lets and separation thereof, whereby the eiliuent oil is further reduced in water content to a value well below pipe line requirements. The arrange- 1 permits application of potentials and adjustment of the distances across the auxiliary treating spaces 87 to produce the most effective treatment of the oil. Additionally, such adjustments are possible independently of the treating action between the electrodes 28 and 21.

One advantage of the treater thus far described is that the water masses need settle only a relatively short distance before reaching the body of the water in the container is. In addition, the general flow of liquid in the container it} is from left to right, namely, in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the water masses in settling from the oil. Correspondingly, the oil moves through the container It in a direction which does not substantially impede separation of the water, thus tending to result in better treatment.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the incoming the main treating space from a diiferent side thereof, namely, from an entrance side paralleling the side wall i l of the container IQ. The entrance zone ld here extends for about two-thirds the length of the container, while the intermediate and exit zones occupy the remaining onethird.

In this embodiment the upper and lower electrodes 9E! and 9! are constructed substantially as previously described except that they are substantially longer. A pair of insulators 92 support the upper electrode 9i) and the bushing serves merely to energize the upper electrode through a conductor 93.

A pipe means extends along the side wall ll of the container and provides a slot means 96 extending substantially the complete length of the treating space 35, measured longitudinally of the container. The innermost end of the pipe means 95 is plugged at 97 so that any emulsion delivered to the other end of this pipe means, exterior of the container, is caused to be discharged horizontally into the treating space 35. The slot means 96 may comprise a single slot extending through the entire length of the treating space, but is emulsion discharges into cles the upper electrode 98 and a given particle carried by preferably a series of slots disposed end to end, as suggested in Fig. 6. If desired, the slot means may be equipped with an arrangement similar to that in Fig. 3 to permit adjustment of width of the emulsion discharge orifice.

In addition, another pipe means its may be extended along the side wall of the container it on the opposite side of the treating space it, as suggested in Fig. 7. This pipe means can be equipped with a slot means hill differing slightly in width from the slot means 96. Each of the pipe means is provided with a corresponding valve m2 and extends to a manifold Hi3 which receives the emulsion under pressure. The discharge velocity can be controlled by opening the appropriate one of the valves [62. Thus, if it is desired that the velocity of jetting into the field be made higher, the emulsion is sent to the pipe means with the narrower slot means and vice versa.

'lhe emulsion jetting into the side of the treating space 35, as indicated by the arrow Hi5, aspirates oil-continuous material into the treating space from above and below the electrodes and establishes closed recirculation paths in the oil-continuous material above and below the electrodes. For example, there is established an upper circulation of oil-continuous material, indicated by arrows Silt which substantially encira lower circulation, indicated by the arrows till, which substantially encircles the lower electrode 9!. In this embodiment of the invention the upper and lower circulations follow substantially helical paths due to the fact that the general direction of flow through the container 16 is longitudinal thereof and toward the exit zone 15. Such circulations are desirable in that they repeatedly deliver to the electric field any water droplets which have not previously been coalesced to such extent as to gravitate from the oil, such droplets being carried with the recirculating streams until coalescence has proceeded to this extent. In this embodiment of the invention, however, the circulation will not be returned to the same portion of the field. Rather, it will next enter the field at a position closer to the exit zone iii due to the fact that the entire body of oil-continuous material in the container it is advancing in this direction because of the continued supply of emulsion. This action has been found very beneficial in the treatment of emulsions.

It is preferable, although not always essential, to use the auxiliary electrodes 70 and Si in the exit zone [5 of the container, these being constructed substantially as previously described except for a diiferent placement of the hood 18. In addition, the auxiliary container 6i] in this embodiment is shown as extending substantially horizontally, an expedient which can be used either in this embodiment or in the embodiment of Fig. 1. Aside from the differences described, the various elements or" the embodiment of Fig. 6 are substantially the same as those of Fig. l and are indicated by the same numerals, where applicable.

Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric treater for resolving emulsions of the water-in-oil type and adapted for connection to a high-voltage source, the combination of: a substantially horizontally disposed than height, said container being adapted to 7 contain an oil-continuous material; a pair of substantially fiat-surfaced and substantially rectangular electrodes; means for electrically insulating said electrodes from each other and for mounting same in face-to-face and substantially parallel relationship in said oil-continuous material to define a four-sided treating space open at each of its four sides, said means including means for electrically connecting said electrodes to said high-voltage source to establish an electric field in said treating space; an elongated nozzle structure comprising a pipe means adjacent and extending along one of said sides of said treating space, said pipe means including a plurality of orifices arranged longitudinally of said pipe means in a direction parallel to said electrodes, the axes of said orifices being substantially parallel to said electrodes so that said orifices discharge emulsion into said side of said treating space toward the center thereof and toward that side of said treating space opposite said one side thereof; and means for delivering the emulsion to be treated to said elongated nozzle structure for discharging same into said one side of said treating space, said discharge drawing into said treating space by aspiration some of said oil-continuous material.

2; In an electric treater for resolving emul- Sions of the water-in-oil type and adapted for connection to a high-voltage source, the combination 01- a substantially horizontally disposed container much greater in horizontal length than height, said container being adapted to contain an oil-continuous material; a pair of substantially fiat-surfaced electrodes means for electrically insulating said electrodes from each other and for mounting same in face-to-face and substantially parallel relationship in said oil-continuous material to define a treating space open at each of its sides, said means including means for electrically connecting said electrodes to said high-voltage source to establish an electric field in said treating space; an elongated pipe and means for mounting same adjacent and extending along one of said sides of said treating space, said pipe including a slot means elongated in a direction parallel to said electrodes and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said I pipe, said slot means defining an emulsion-discharge orifice facing said treating space to direct emulsion toward the center of said treating space; and means for delivering the emulsion to be treated to said elongated pipe for discharging same into said one side of said treating space, said.- discharge drawing into said treating space by aspiration some or" said oil-continuous material.

3. An electrode structure for an emulsionresplying electric treater and adapted to be energized from a. high-voltage source while positioned in an oil-continuous material, said electrode structure including, in combination: a pair of substantially flat-surfaced electrodes; means for electrically insulating said electrodes from each other and for mounting same in face-toface and substantially parallel relationship in said oil-continuous material to define a treating space open at each of its sides, said means including means for electrically connecting said.

to said high-voltage source to estabileld in said treating space; an adjacent and extending of said treating space,

electrodes lish an electric elongated pipe means along one of said sides said pipe means including a slot means elongated.

. toward the center in a direction parallel to said electrodes and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipe means, said slot means defining an emulsiondischarge orifice means facing to direct emulsion of said treating space; means for delivering the emulsion to be treated to said elongated pipe means for discharging same into said one side of said treating space, said discharge drawing into said treating space by aspiration some of said oil-continuous material; and means for changing the width of said orifice means to control the thickness and jet velocity of the stream of emulsion jetted into said treating space.

4. An electrode structure as defined in claim 3, in which said last named means includes an orifice member on said pipe means and providing an edge bounding one side of slot means, and including means for adjusting the position of said orifice member to vary the thickness of the stream of emulsion jetting from said orifice means.

5. An electrode structure 'for an emulsionresolving electric treater and adapted to be energized from a high-voltage source while positioned in an oil-continuous material, said electrode structure including, in combination: a pair of substantially flat-surfaced and substantially rectangular electrodes; means for electrically insulating said electrodes from each other and for mounting same in iace-to face and substantially parallel relationship in said oil-continuous material to define a four-sided treating space open at each of its four sides, said means including means for electrically connecting said electrodes to said high-voltage source to establish an electric field in said treating space, each of said substantially flat-surfaced electrodes comprising a substantially horizontal peripheral frame and a sheet of foraminous material secured to said frame and extending across the space therewithin, the sheets facing each other to define the boundaries of said treating space; an elongated nozzle structure comprising a pipe means adjacent and extending along one or" said sides of said treating space, said pipe means including a plurality of orifices arranged longitudinally of said pipe means in a direction parallel to said electrodes, the axes of said orifices being substantially parallel to said electrodes so that. said orifices discharge emulsion into said side of said treating space toward the center thereof and toward that side of said treating space opposite said one side thereof; and means for delivering the emulsion to be treated to said elongated nozzle structure for discharging same into said one side of said treating space, said discharge drawing into said treating space by aspiration some of said oilcontinuous material.

6. In an electric treater for resolving emulsions of'the water-in-oil type and adapted for connection to a high-voltage source, the combination of: a substantially horizontally disposed container much greater in horizontal length than height, said container being adapted to contain an oil-continuous material, said container providing an entrance zone adjacent one end thereof and an exit zone spaced from said entrance zone in a direction longitudinally of said container, there being an intermediate zone between said entrance and exit zonesj a pair of substantially fiat-surfaced electrodes; means for insulating said electrodes from each other and for mounting same to: extend longitudinally of said container in said entrance zone: in face-to-face and substantially parallel relationship to define therebetween a four-sided treating space open at each of its four sides, one of said sides being an entrance side and another of said sides being an side, said exit side facing said intermediate zone, said means including means for electrically connecting said electrodes to said high-voltage source to establish an emulsion-treating electric field in said treating space of sufiicient intensity to coalesce the dispersed aqueous droplets of the emulsion into masses of sufiicient size to gravi tate from the oil; an elongated nozzle structure in said entrance zone adjacent and extending along said entrance side of said treating space, said elongated nozzle structure providing a plurality of emulsion-discharge orifices disposed along said elongated nozzle structure in a direction substantially parallel to said electrodes and facing said entrance side of said treating space to direct emulsion into said side of said treating space and toward the center thereof, at least a portion of the treated emulsion constituents flowing from said exit side of said treating space in a generally horizontal exit direction away from said exit side; means for delivering the emulsion to be treated to said elongated nozzle structure; and means for establishing a generally-horizontal flow of oil-continuous material from said exit side of said treating space and in the same generally-horizontal exit direction as the treated emulsion constituents move when issuing from said exit side, said flow of oil-continuous material said intermediate zone to said exit zone, said coalesced masses gravitating from such generallyhorizontal flow of oil-continuous material in said intermediate and exit zones to form a relatively shallow layer of water-continuous material in the lowermost portion of said container, said flow-establishing means including a treated-oil withdrawal means communicating with the upper end of said exit zone, said flow-establishing means also including a coalesced-phase withdrawal means communicating with the lower portion of said container to withdraw water-continuous material from said layer thereof.

7. An electric treater as defined in claim 6 in which said entrance and exit sides are aligned substantially longitudinally of said container and in which said emulsion-discharge orifices face longitudinally of said container whereby said streams of emulsion flow from said elongated nozzle structure in said generally-horizontal exit direction so that the incoming and treated emulsion flow in the same general direction longitudinally of said container from the elongated nozzle structure through the intermediate zone and into the exit zone.

8, An electric treater as defined in claim 6 in which said container provides side and end walls and in which said entrance side faces a side wall of said container, said emulsion-discharge orifices being directed laterally of said container.

9. In an electric treater for resolving emulsions oi the water-in-oil type. the combine. on of: a substantially horizontally disposed tainer much. greater in horizontal length than height, said container having an entrance .ie near one end, and an exit zone near the other end, said zones being in uninterrupted communi cation with each other, a main electrode means comprising a pair of substantially plane-surfaced electrodes spaced in substantially parallel relationship in said entrance zone and extending subs'tantially parallel to the longitudinal axis O Sa d container, said electrodes enclosing a treating space therebetween, an auxiliary electrode means comprising another pair of spaced electrodes positioned in said exit zone and enclosing a treating space therebetween, means for establishing an electric field in each of said treating spaces, discharge means for discharging the emulsion to be treated into said treating space in said entrance zone, and means for separately withdrawing from said exit zone streams of oil and separated material.

10. An electric treater as defined in claim 9 in which said auxiliary electrode means includes a plurality of foraminous electrodes extending substantially vertically and transversely to said longitudinal partially treated oil from said main electrode means.

11. A high voltage emulsion treater for electrically resolving emulsions of the water-in-oil type, comprising in combination: a substantially cylindrical container with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal, said container being much greater in horizontal length than height and containing an entrance zone and an exit zone longitudinally spaced in said container and separated by an intermediate zone, a pair of electrodes insulated from one another and mounted in said entrance zone in substantially parallel relationship and substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and defining therebetween a treating space, means to establish a high voltage electric field in said treating space capable of treating the emulsion to produce treated emulsion constituents containing coalesced aqueous masses, said container including a transversely unobstructed longitudinal trough interconnecting the lower portions of said entrance,

uents, means for discharging a stream of emulsion into said treating space, means for withdrawing coalesced aqueous material irom. said trough at an exit position downstream from said entrance zone to establish a flow of coalesced material along said trough in a longitudinal direction from said entrance zone to said exit position, and means for flowing the treated emulsion constituents substantially in the same longitudinal direction above the coalesced material in said trough, said last-named means including a treated-oil withdrawal means communicating with the upper end of said exit zone. a

12. In an electric treater for resolving emulsions of the water-in-oil type, the combination of: a substantially horizontally disposed con tainer much greater in horizontal length than height, said container being adapted to contain an oil continuous material, and having an entrance zone adjacent one end and an exit zone adjacent the other end, a pair of substantially flat-surfaced electrodes insulated from one an other and mounted in said entrance zone in face to face and substantially parallel relationship to extend longitudinally of said container and to define therebetween a treating space, said electrodes having a pair of substantially parallel edges in a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said container, means to establish a high voltage electric field in said treating space, an elongated nozzle structure in said entrance zone adjacent and extending along said pair of edges, said elongated nozzle structure ll having a plurality of emulsion discharge orifices spaced from each other in a direction substantially parallel to said edges, said orifices facing said treating space and directing emulsion into tainer greater in horizontal length than height,

emulsion bounding said container comprising an zone, a plurality of sets of electrodes mounted in said zone, said electrodes being substantially flat-surfaced, insulated from one another and mounted in face to face substantially parallel relationship to define treating spaces between facing surfaces, at least one set of said electrodes extending substantially longitudinally of said container, said electrodes in each set having substantially parallel groups of edges, means to establish high vo tage fields in said treating spaces, elongated discharge means adjacent and extending along at least one of said groups of edges, said elongated discharge means having a plurality of emulsion discharge orifices spaced from each other in a direction substantially parallel to said one group of edges, said orifices facing said treating space and directing emulsion into said treating space toward the center there-- of, means for delivering emulsion to the discharge means, treated-oil withdrawal means communieating with the upper portion of said zone coalesced-phase withdrawal means communicating with the lower portion of said zone.

14. In an electric treater for resolving emulsions of the water-in-oil type, the combination of: a container having a longitudinal axis and forming a zone for oil-continuous material bounded by opposed side and end walls, a pair of substantially plane-surfaced electrodes near one end of said container, means mounting said electrodes in said zone substantially parallel to said axis and in spaced relationship to define a treating space therebetween, said electrodes having a pair of substantially parallel edges of substantial length extending longitudinally of said container and facing one of said side walls, means to establish an electric field in said treating space, an elongated emulsion-delivery means in said zone extending substantially parallel to said axis opposite said pair of edges, said last-named means having an emulsion discharge orifice means directed into an open side of said treating space substantially transverse to said axis, and means to cause the treated emulsion constituents to move generally longitudinally of said container and transversely of the direction of feed of said emulsion from said orifice means, said last-named means including withdrawal means for separately withdrawing the separated oil and coalesced material from said container, at least one of said withdrawal means being spaced from said electrodes towards the opposite end of said container.

15. An electric treater as defined in claim 14 in which said emulsion delivery means is spaced from each of said electrodes in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis to cause aspiration induced helical circulation of oil-continuous material around at least a portion of each electrode.

16. An electric treater as defined in claim 15 in which the axis of said container is substantially horizontal and in which both withdrawal means are positioned near the end of said container opposite said electrode end.

17. In an electric treater for resolving emulsions of the water-in-oil type and adapted for connection to a high voltage source, the combination of z a main substantially horizontally disposed container much greater in horizontal length than height, said main container providing a zone for oil-continuous material, a pair of electrodes insulated from one another and mounted. in said zone in spaced relationship to define a treating space therebetween, means for establishing an electric field in said treating space, means for delivering the emulsion to be treated to said treating space, the lowermost portion of said ma-in container comprising a shallow channel to receive a relatively shallow layer of coalesced material, a small auxiliary container closed from the atmosphere and positioned entirely below said main container, conduiu means for conducting said separated coalesced liquid from said shallow channel to said auxiliary container, an oil withdrawal pipe for withdrawing oil from the upper portion of said container, and another withdrawal pipe communicating with said auxiliary container for withdrawing therefrom a stream of coalesced liquid, and. an oil return pipe having a lower end portion below any portion of said main container opening on the upper portion of said auxiliary container, said return pipe having, an upper end opening on the interior of said main container to return thereto any oil separating from the coalesced liquid in said auxiliary container.

18. An electric treater as defined in claim 17 in which said return pipe opens on the interior oi said main container at a position above said layer of coalesced liquid therein.

19. in an electric treater for resolving emulsions of the water-in-oil type, the combination of: a substantially horizontally disposed cylindrical container much greater in horizontal length than height, said container having an entrance zone near one end and an exit zone near the other end, said zones being in open communication with each other, a main electrode means comprising a pair of substantially plane electrodes spaced in substantially parallel relationship in said entrance zone and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container, an auxiliary electrode means comprising another pair of spaced electrodes positioned in said exit zone, said auxiliary electrode means including at least one live electrode and at least one grounded electrode spaced from said live electrode in a direction longitudinally of said container, said live and grounded electrodes comprising foraminous fiat members extending in planes substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said container, said live electrode being substantially semicircular to provide a lower edge, said grounded electrode being substantially circular but of a size greater than a semicircle and having a lower non-circular portion, said electric treater including means for insulating said live electrode from said container and for mounting same in said exit zone with its 13 periphery spaced substantially uniformly from said container and with its lower edge extending substantially horizontally adjacent the longitudinal axis of said container, and means for mounting said grounded electrode in said exit zone with its periphery spaced substantially uniformly from said container and with its lower non-circular portion below said lower edge of said live electrode and above the bottom of said container to provide a space between such noncircular portion and said bottom of said container for receiving and conducting the coalesced material as it flows to its withdrawal means, means for establishing electric fields in each of said zones, means for discharging the emulsion to be treated into said entrance zone for treatment by said main electrode means to coalesce a portion of the dispersed phase of the emulsion into masses of suificient size to gravitate from the oil to the lower portion of said container, the oil flowing longitudinally of said container to said auxiliary electrode means for further treatment and additional coalescence and separation of any residual dispersed phase; and means for separately withdrawing from said exit zone streams of oil and separated material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,440,776 Eddy Jan. v2, 1923 1,480,064 Harris Jan. 8, 1924 1,555,231 Skaer Sept. 29, 1925 1,559,035 Eglofi et al Oct. 27, 1925 1,838,917 Eddy et al. Dec. 25, 1931 2,033,167 Worthington Mar. 10, 1936 2,033,567 Worthington Mar. 1.0, 1936 

9. IN AN ELECTRIC TREATER FOR RESOLVING EMULSIONS OF THE WATER-IN-OIL TYPE, THE COMBINATION OF: A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CONTAINER MUCH GREATER IN HORIZONTAL LENGTH THAN HEIGHT, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN ENTRANCE ZONE NEAR ONE END, AND AN EXIT ZONE NEAR THE OTHER END, SAID ZONES BEING IN UNINTERRUPTED COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER, A MAIN ELECTRODE MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PLANE-SURFACED ELECTRODES SPACED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP IN SAID ENTRANCE ZONE AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID ELECTRODES ENCLOSING A TREATING SPACE THEREBETWEEN, AN AUXILIARY ELECTRODE MEANS COMPRISING ANOTHER PAIR OF SPACED ELECTRODES POSITIONED IN SAID EXIT ZONE AND ENCLOSING A TREATING SPACE THEREBTWEEN, MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRIC FIELD IN EACH OF SAID TREATING SPACES, DISCHARGE MEANS FOR DISCHARGING THE EMULSION TO BE TREATED INTO SAID TREATING SPACE IN SAID ENTRANCE ZONE, AND MEANS FOR SEPARATELY WITHDRAWING FROM SAID EXIT ZONE STREAMS OF OIL AND SEPARATED MATERIAL. 